Junior Alvarado sounds off on hefty Derby crop fine

Just days after securing the biggest win of his career aboard Sovereignty in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, jockey Junior Alvarado is grappling with a significant penalty for violating crop rules.

Despite a brilliant, ground-saving ride despite leaving from the far outside, Alvarado has been fined $62,000 and suspended for two race days due to excessive use of the riding crop — striking the horse eight times, two over the limit. Because it was his second violation within six months, the fine was doubled from the standard $31,000, which represents 10% of his Derby earnings.

Saturday on Off to the Races Radio, Alvarado shared his frustration and disbelief. “You know, just with the strike first, you know, it’s almost impossible to keep track, especially when you go into big races,” he said. “When you go into big races, it’s a lot of big decisions, you have no room for mistakes. So the last thing you’re thinking is about the whipping.”

The Venezuelan-born rider described his post-race celebrations with friends and family – and his “40 or 50” phone calls from Venezuela — as “really heartwarming.”

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Not so the penalty imposed by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).

“This is the only thing that has been kind of ruined my, my, my happiness, because it’s just ugly,” he said. “Just to put that up there, and everybody’s seeing that now they just definitely, you know, gonna ruin a little bit the moment.”

Alvarado also took issue with the specifics of the penalty. He believes he did not hit the horse more than the prescribed limit.

“Like I’ve been doing in Florida, you know, swing at the horses sometime without having contact, just because to make him think that I’m about to hit him,” Alvarado said. “So that way they keep going, especially with horses, you know, when when horses run from off the pace, you know, they’re a little more heavy. They need a little more encouraged.”

Alvarado has had several earlier crop violations, the most recent of which prior to the Derby was Dec. 1 – just within the six-month cutoff: something else exasperating the rider.

“It’s just extremely ridiculous. You know, it’s just unbelievable.”

He added, “I don’t see any other sport where any athlete will get fined that much, money wise, for something like that,” he added.

Despite the controversy, Alvarado remains proud of his Derby ride and the longtime support of Sovereignty’s trainer, Bill Mott.

“He’s been very supportive through, through my whole career,” said Alvarado, highlighting their partnership that included horses like Cody’s Wish.

As for what comes next, Sovereignty is bypassing the Preakness Stakes May 17 and instead is pointed to the Belmont. For his part, Alvarado is choosing to cherish the historic moment — even as he voices concern over a rule he believes needs more nuance.